How to Grow Tomatoes?

With their vibrant colors and freshness, Tomatoes are a popular vegetable known for their prolific yield and versatility in cooking. A member of the nightshade family, it comes in approximately 10,000 varieties, with colors ranging from pink to purple, yellow to white, and even black. Tomatoes are often categorized as an indeterminate or determinate variety, and it is important to know the difference when deciding which to plant.

Tomatoes are warm-weather plants that are grown during late spring or early summer, except in zone 10, where they are grown during the fall or winter. Although most varieties need 100 days to mature, some varieties only take 50 – 60 days. Tomatoes will not grow in temperatures below 50°F, so you should plant them when the temperature is consistently above 55°F. You can also start seedlings indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last spring frost date. The ideal soil temperature for growing tomatoes is 60°F. They do not like temperatures over 90°F, so it is best to cover them or place them in shade during times of sustained heat.